Ford team aim to drive 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid over 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas.
Putting the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid to the ultimate fuel-efficiency test, a team of drivers will be attempting to drive over 1000 miles on a single tank of gas, raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in the process. Currently the most fuel-efficient, mid-sized sedan in America, the Fusion Hybrid will have to best its EPA rating of 41 mpg in the city by attaining an average of at least 57 mpg.
Demonstrating its message “Ford is Different”, Ford has invested in creating vehicles with strong fuel-economy numbers and is working with all drivers to encourage more fuel-efficient driving in any vehicle. Throughout the challenge, driver Wayne Gerdes, who is the World Record Breaking Hypermiling champion and founder of cleanmpg.com, will be providing fuel-saving driving tips.
Other than a fresh change of oil before the drive commences and having the tire pressures checked, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid used in the challenge will not be altered in any way. It will run on regular 87 octane gas.
The 1,000 mile challenge starts at around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday April 25th from Mount Vernon, Virginia, and ends the morning of Monday April 27th in Washington, DC. Using The George Washington Boulevard as the main drive route, the Fusion Hybrid will be driven with driver change-over stops only throughout the day and night of Saturday April 25th as well as the day and night of Sunday April 26th.
The team comprises:
- Wayne Gerdes – World Record Breaking Hypermiling champion and founder of cleanmpg.com
- Sherif Maraky – Graduate of Maryland University, Sherif is the Chief Engineer in the Hybrid Team
- Gil Portalatin – Gil is the Hybrid Applications Manager and the man responsible for leading the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid team
- Tom Rolewiszc – Tom is one of Ford’s top calibration experts and has all the key information about how the hybrid system works
- Steve Burke – Steve is another product expert on hybrid applications.
- Carl Edwards – Carl is a NASCAR race legend. He will be joining the team on Sunday night and Monday morning and will be doing a significant part of the driving. Carl has recently bought his own 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and loves the car.
Tags: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, Carl Edwards, environment, Ford Motor Company, Ford Story, fuel efficiency, hypermiling, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Wayne Gerdes
